Curry looking to make a name for himself

Brother Steph, father Dell set NBA standard for Curry

July 10, 2014|By Brian Schmitz Orlando Sentinel

He has the basketball bloodlines. He has a sweet jump shot that's ingrained in the family DNA. And he'll do anything to carve a niche in the NBA, including crossing several time zones to play more summer-league hoops.

Seth Curry is having to take the long way around.

His brother is Steph Curry, an All-Star point guard with the Golden State Warriors. His father is Dell Curry, who played in the NBA for 16 seasons.

On Thursday, Seth Curry led the Magic with 15 points, hitting 4-of-6 3-pointers, in a 76-67 loss to the Boston Celtics in summer-league action at Amway Center.

Curry said there was mutual interest between him and the Magic for this audition, considering the club might need offensive firepower to replace Arron Afflalo and Jameer Nelson.

"Absolutely," Curry said. "They had a few guards leave and they're getting younger. They can use some guys who can shoot the ball and spread the floor. That's what I do."

That's what all the Currys can do — and have done — in the NBA.

Steph Curry averaged 24 points last season for the Warriors and is a career 44-percent shooter from 3-point range.

Their father, Dell, averaged 11.7 points and averaged 40.2 percent from downtown for his career.

Seth Curry — let's see if we can keep our Currys straight — averaged 19.7 points last season. But he put up those numbers playing for the Santa Cruz Warriors, Golden State's NBA Developmental League team.

The NBA Warriors split up the brothers, waiving Seth before the regular season after signing him as an undrafted free agent out of Duke.

Curry, 23, said he regularly hears encouragement and constructive criticism from his brother and father.

"Lot of stuff," Curry said. "My whole life, they've been my biggest fans. They get on me, but I get a lot of positive feedback."

The Magic led 56-54 until Celtics point guard Marcus Smart — the No. 6 pick in the draft — drilled back-to-back 3-point shots to give Boston the lead.

After Curry's 3-pointer, Smart completed a stellar scoop shot for a 70-65 lead with 71 seconds left.

Looking for every avenue to reach the league, Curry likely will be out of Orlando when the Magic finish the tournament Friday. He's expected to board a flight to Las Vegas to play in the summer league for the Phoenix Suns after averaging 9.8 points for Orlando (2-2).

Magic assistant coach Wes Unseld Jr., who is coaching Orlando's summer-league squad, said he thinks Curry can play in the NBA.

Unseld Jr. can relate to Curry feeling the need to live up to the family name.

Unseld's father, Wes, played 13 seasons in the NBA and is a Hall of Famer.

Wes Jr. played for John Hopkins University for three seasons but never in the NBA, joining the Washington Wizards as a scout three days after college graduation.

"I think he's confident in his own skin," Unseld Jr. said. "I can relate on some level. ... I'm sure he dwells on it a little bit [being a Curry]."

Seth Curry said he doesn't feel pressure to live up to the successes of his brother and his father.

"I have double trouble in that sense," Curry said, smiling. "I just try to embrace it. ... I feel like I can play at his level. I'm just trying to work on my game, trying to pursue this dream."